Parkview’s Conga Kids Team Takes Top Honors

Parkview’s Conga Kids Team Takes Top Honors

Expanding its Visual and Performing Arts curriculum to the sixth grade, this year the Mountain View School District partnered with Conga Kids to offer a 6th grade expansion partner dance program for students.

Conga Kids is a 10-week program where students not only learn ballroom dances including the Tango, Foxtrot, Swing, Salsa and Merengue, but develop life skills including discipline, respect, self-confidence, leadership, teamwork, cooperation, and fun.The twice weekly classes are taught by expert teaching artists who explore dance in a global context.

As a culminating event to the 10-week program, the District teams from Cogswell, Maxson, Miramonte, Parkview, Payne and Twin Lakes took to the stage at Rosemead High School to compete in the semi-final dance competition.It was an extraordinary event that showcased the tremendous talent of our 6th grade dancers.The auditorium was filled with excited parents, family members, school and district personnel, El Monte city staff and council members and community supporters who loudly cheered on the dancers.

The teams from Miramonte, Twin Lakes and Parkview Schools took top honors at the semi-finals and moved on to the 6th grade finals representing MVSD, competing against other Los Angeles County schools at Hollenbeck Middle School in Los Angeles.At the finals, a total of 7 school teams from throughout L.A. County were vying for the 1st place trophy and a chance to perform at a special event at the Conga Room at L.A. Live.MVSD was well represented with parents, staff and community members in the audience showing their support for the dancers.Displaying tremendous dance skills and stage presence all the teams did a fantastic job as they were judged for performing the Merengue, Fox Trot, Swing, Salsa and Tango.MVSD was well represented by the Miramonte, Parkview and Twin Lakes’ teams and Miramonte’s team earned 3rd place and Parkview’s team danced their way to 1st place, taking top honors.

“I am so very proud of our students,” said Donelle Soto, Parkview principal. “They worked so hard learning all the dances and the entire Conga Kids experience has truly been a life changing experience for them. We are extremely grateful to the Conga Kids expert dancers who transformed our students into amazing ballroom dancers. Thanks to everyone for supporting, cheering and loving our team!”

The Mountain View School District is proud of all the sixth grade dancers who participated in the Conga Kids program and represented their schools and the District so well.

“It was such a joy to see all of our teams compete and the Parkview dancers on stage at the exclusive Conga Room,” said Lillian Maldonado French, MVSD Superintendent. “It was truly an incredible experience for them and a memory I know they will treasure forever. They made our District and the city of El Monte very proud.”